Court allows Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to join Heber Valley Temple lawsuit

HEBER, Utah (ABC4) — In January, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints submitted a request for intervention in a lawsuit against Wasatch County regarding the construction of the Heber Valley Temple.

On April 30, a 4th District Court judge granted the motion.

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The controversy surrounding the construction of the Heber Valley Temple does not necessarily revolve around the nature of the religious structure, but rather its size, light and location. The debate has mainly centered around light pollution as the area is known for its dark night skies. Other concerns include traffic in the area and loss of view of the mountains.

In November 2023, the The Wasatch County City Council voted to approve construction of the temple, although petitioners who own homes near the proposed site argued that the building would have a negative impact on their views, privacy and peaceful enjoyment.

In January, the Church said it should be involved in the lawsuit filed against Wasatch County since the Church owns the property, applied for development and wants to build the temple.

After hearing oral arguments in April, a judge granted the Church’s motion to intervene, meaning it will be allowed to join the Heber Valley Temple lawsuit. He also denied a request to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Wasatch County.

The court ruled that the Church “fulfilled its charge by showing the [Wasatch County] is unable to diligently represent your interest,” adding that during oral argument, Wasatch County’s attorney “stated that the County Council’s commitment to defending this case is not unwavering and the new members of the County Council may think of different way”.

After the ruling, the court said the Church had three weeks to respond to the order.

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